Ice creeper



I Patented F ch. 8, 1927.

DAVID W. FISH, OF DOLGEVILLE, NEW YORK.

ICE CREEIPER.

Application filed March 26, 1925. SerialNo. 18,525.

The inventionhas for its object to provide simple, economically manufactured 1ce creeper structures that can be quickly, conveniently and securely aflixed upon the feet of a user and which efiicintly serve their intended purpose of facilitating safe "walkin over icy "surfaces.

he novel, details of construction of the invention will be first fully described in the following detailed description, then heparticularly pointed out in the appended cla m, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which a Figure 1 is a detail perspective view of one of a pair of creeper units.-

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the creepers.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a metal blank from which the body of a creeper is formed. In the drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in-all of the figures 1 indicates the body of the creeper which is preferably formed from a thin sheet metal blank of a shape substantially :5 conforming to that of the fore part of a shoe sole and of such proportions that it will not project beyond the shoe sole of the wearer. The body 1 is bent at 2 to conform generally to the bottom curvature of the ball :0 of the foot, and as at 3 to fit the instep.

The body 1 is also provided with a pair of rear longitudinal slots 4 for receivlng the securing strap or elastic band 5 which may be provided with a suitable securing,

5. and adjusting buckle 6 if desired. The body also has a pair of frontlongitudinal slots 7 for accommodating the securing toe strap 8 also equipped with a securing and adjusting buckle 9. It will be observedthat the straps 5 and 8 are passed upwardly through the respective slots 4 or 7 at one side of the body 1, across the body, and down throu h the slots 4 and 7 at the opposite side. 11 this manner a securing means is provided i which assures a proper positioning of the creepers as desired. 7

That portion of each creeperbody 1 which engages the ball of the foot is provided with a plurality of sharp gripper prongs 10 which I are projected downwardly to engage the slippery surface being walked over. In the drawings I have shown three such prongs to each creeper body. They may be cheaplyand conveniently provided by stamping converging and meeting slits 11 in the blank body from which the devices are made and. bending down the V-shaped portion pro vided by such slitting on the line 12 which traverses the open head of the V to thus present the base or point of the V to the ground or the ice thereon. See Figures 1 and 3. U

It will be observed by reference to Figures 1 and 2 that the foremost or side prongs 10 are positioned with their flat faces opposed, and that the rearmost or central prong 10 is positioned transversely of and is noticeably longer than the first mentioned prongs. In walking, the said longer prong engages the ground before the other prongs come 1nto function and a slight pivotal movement is thus permitted such as will enable perfect self-adjustment of the step and provide for freedom and comfort in the walking action.

The heel strap 5 is adapted to be pulled over or clasped over the heel part of the shoe so that after the straps have once been adjusted to the particular shoe the device is to fit the strap ends may be left buckled together and the device removed or replaced simply by stretching the bands over the toe and heel respectively.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it is thought the novel details of construction, the manner of use and the advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, to which it relates. What I claim is:

, A device of the class described comprising a flat body of sufficient length to cover the hollow of the shoe sole beneath the in'step and the ball only of that sole, a toe strap connected to the plate in position for encircling the ,foot just in advance of the instep, a second securing strap secured to the plate portion which fits beneath-the instep, and stamped out and bent down anti-slip prongs for engaging the ground for the purposes stated, one such prong being positioned at each side of the ball engaging portion of the body with their flat faces opposed,

and a single such prong of greater length than the first mentioned prongs being positioned in the plate portion that fits beneath the instep with the flat face thereof positioned transversely ofsaid instep fitting portion.

. DAVID W. FISH. 

